Yamunotri Temple (Shri Yamuna Mata Mandir)
Yamunotri, Uttarkashi district, below the Bandarpunch massif, approx. 6 km above Janki Chatti · Goddess Yamuna (Yamuna Mata), sister of Yama, worshipped in a black stone/marble image
The first Dham of the Char Dham: a small shrine of the Yamuna beside steaming hot springs at about 3,291 m, reached by a 6 km trek.
Yamunotri is the shrine of the river goddess Yamuna near the river's source (the Champasar glacier below Kalind Parvat, which is not normally visited). It stands at about 3,291 m (Wikipedia) and is reached by an approx. 6 km paved trek from the road head at Janki Chatti. The temple opens on Akshaya Tritiya and closes on Yama Dwitiya (Bhai Dooj); in winter the goddess is worshipped at Kharsali village. In 2026 it opened on 19 April and closing was reported for 11 November.
Timings
- Season 2026: Opened 19 April 2026; closing reported for 11 November 2026 (Bhai Dooj)
- Temple open (summer): approx. 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM; check locally
- Morning aarti: approx. 6:30 AM
- Evening aarti: approx. 7:00 PM
- Winter seat: Kharsali (Khushimath) village, approx. 1–2 km from Janki Chatti
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Aarti of Yamuna Mata – Free to attend (approx. 6:30 AM and 7:00 PM)
- Surya Kund rice offering – Free (rice/potato packets sold cheaply at stalls) (During the day)
- Divya Shila and Yamuna puja – Varies (dakshina) (During the day)
How to book darshan
There is no online seva booking for Yamunotri. Register (free) for the Char Dham yatra and arrange pujas locally. Ponies, palkis and kandis are hired at the Janki Chatti prepaid counter.
Dress code
No formal dress code; modest clothes, good walking shoes and a raincoat.
Best time to visit
May–June and September–October. Avoid July–August (landslides on the Barkot–Janki Chatti road and the trek).
How to reach
- air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, approx. 210 km to Janki Chatti.
- rail: Dehradun approx. 175 km; Rishikesh approx. 210 km.
- road: Dehradun → Mussoorie → Naugaon → Barkot → Syanachatti → Hanuman Chatti → Janki Chatti (road head). Then trek approx. 6 km (2.5–4 hours up) or hire pony, palki or kandi at the prepaid counter (rates fixed by the Uttarkashi district administration and displayed there).
Festivals
- Opening on Akshaya Tritiya – April/May (19 April 2026)
- Closing on Yama Dwitiya (Bhai Dooj) – Oct/Nov (11 Nov 2026 reported)